Defiant Requiem Shows Jews Kept Spirit Alive in Nazi Death Camp

Music for the Defiant Requiem with the name of a prisoner at the Nazi camp where it was performed

Ben Breuninger/DSO

Dawn Uhl-Zifilippo/WDET

Thursday night at the Congregation Shaarey Zadek temple in Southfield, classical music conductor Murry Sidlin joins with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Community Chorus of Detroit to recreate a moment of musical defiance by Jewish prisoners held inside a Nazi camp called Terezen more than 70 years ago.

About 150 Jewish prisoners banded together in that camp under the gathering clouds of World War II.

In a dark, dank cellar the prisoners learned a piece of music that inspired their comrades and showed their spirits would not be crushed by the Nazis.

Sidlin took that story and created a multimedia presentation around it called the “Defiant Requiem.”

We want to hear from you.Share your thoughts and opinions:

WDET is a public service of Wayne State University. 2019 WDET 101.9 and Wayne State University. All Rights Reserved. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form.